A toughie, but, for the most part, a goodie. Now that the prize deadline has passed you can find my completed grid below along with explanations of my solutions where I have them. I hope you find them helpful. If an earlier Jumbo has given you grief then you might find my Just For Fun page of use, where you’ll find links to solutions for hundreds of the things.
Thanks again for the kind words and continued encouragement. It does mean a lot. Till next time, stay safe out there kids.
LP
With thanks to omniscient for correcting 28a
Across clues
- Part of brain from large mammal found in front of learning centre (11)
Answer: HIPPOCAMPUS (i.e. “part of brain”). Solution is HIPPO (i.e. “large mammal”, short for hippopotamus) followed by CAMPUS (i.e. “learning centre”).
- Leading positions in profession or craft after tide turned (11)
Answer: EDITORSHIPS (i.e. “leading positions in [newspaper] profession”). Solution is OR and SHIPS (i.e. seafaring “craft”) both placed “after” TIDE once it has been reversed (indicated by “turned”), like so: EDIT-(OR-SHIPS).
- Cutting ends off pendant or charm (9)
Answer: TRENCHANT (i.e. “cutting”). Solution is T and R (i.e. “ends off pendant or”, i.e. the last letters of “pendant” and “or”) followed by ENCHANT (i.e. “charm”).
- Since parking, stop – perhaps on this (7)
Answer: ASPHALT. Solution satisfies the clue as a whole, being a road surface, but also comprises AS (i.e. “since” or because of), P (a recognised abbreviation of “parking” used on maps and signage) and HALT (i.e. “stop”).
- Before close of play, big match is liable to boil over (5)
Answer: TESTY (i.e. “liable to boil over”). Solution is Y (i.e. “close of play”, i.e. the last letter of “play”) with TEST (i.e. “big match”) placed “before” it, like so: TEST-Y.
- Make defensive move as learner in class (6)
Answer: CASTLE (i.e. “make defensive move” in chess). Solution is L (a recognised abbreviation of “learner”, as seen on L-plates) placed “in” CASTE (i.e. social “class”), like so: CAST(L)E.
- Lip in great pain, working in a filthy plant (8)
Answer: AGRIMONY (i.e. “plant”). A triple-header with a difference. Usually in triple-headers the solution satisfies three phrases or words in the clue, but in this case a little more work is required. Solution is RIM (i.e. “lip”) placed “in” AGONY (i.e. “great pain”), like so: AG(RIM)ONY. The solution is also ON (i.e. “working” or operational) placed “in” A and GRIMY (i.e. “filthy”), like so: A-GRIM(ON)Y. I like the inventiveness of this one.
- Power behind punt, say, that’s in beastly kicker’s leg (7)
Answer: PASTERN (i.e. “that’s in beastly kicker’s leg” – over to Chambers for this bit of esoterica: “the part of a horse’s foot from the fetlock to the hoof, where the shackle is fastened”. Good grief, I have a hard enough time with human anatomy!) Solution is P (a recognised abbreviation of “power”) followed by ASTERN (i.e. “behind punt, say” – other types of boat are available).
- Early cross-channel fare, somewhat reduced? (11,9)
Answer: CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST (i.e. “early cross-channel fare”). The remainder of the clue plays on how continental breakfasts (rolls and coffee) aren’t quite the full English (sausage, bacon, egg, beans, streaky bacon, fried mushrooms, tomato, toast and smoky bacon, all washed down with two cups of builder’s and a ciggie).
- Collectively backs excuse (7)
Answer: DEFENCE. Solution satisfies “collectively backs”, i.e. the defenders in a football team, and “excuse”.
- Cunning about what, oddly, could be “across” clue (7)
Answer: ATHWART (i.e. “across” – not a word I’ve seen in the wild, but Chambers is happy enough with it). Solution is ART (i.e. “cunning”) wrapped “about” an anagram (indicated by “oddly”) of WHAT, like so: A(THWA)RT.
- Observed how plain such a cake is (7)
Answer: NOTICED (i.e. “observed”). When written as NOT ICED the solution also satisfies “how plain such a cake is”.
- Assumed choice of directions (4)
Answer: WORE (i.e. “assumed”). When written as W OR E the solution playfully satisfies “choice of directions”, specifically recognised abbreviations of “west” and “east” respectively.
[EDIT: Thanks to omniscient in the comments for flagging this one. The solution turned out to be WORN, not WORE, with N being short for “north”, another direction. The editor’s decision is final and all that, but I’d love to know the reason for picking one and not the other. Both words are spun from WEAR: WORE being its past tense form, WORN being its past participle form. Hardened grammarians might argue a world of difference between the two, but, in the context of a cryptic crossword where tortuous use of language is not only permitted but damn-near mandatory, you cannot put a cigarette paper between the two forms. I would argue such ambiguity demonstrates poor grid awareness from the setter, and a poor show from the editor too. Indeed, given the deteriorating standard of Jumbo Cryptics – particularly with the constant stream of repeated solutions – I’m growing ever more convinced the editor is publishing these things sight-unseen. – LP]
- Careless hit-and-run (8)
Answer: SLAPDASH (i.e. “careless”). Solution is SLAP (i.e. “hit”) followed by DASH (i.e. “run”).
- Remove ends from bin and show price, see (9)
Answer: BISHOPRIC (i.e. “see” or diocese). Solution is BIN, SHOW and PRICE once the last letters have been removed from each (indicated by “remove ends from…”).
- Conservative on offer as candidate (9)
Answer: CONTENDER (i.e. “candidate”). Solution is CON (a recognised abbreviation of “Conservative”) followed by TENDER (i.e. “offer”, as in tendering one’s resignation).
- Holds working meeting with partners – they’re past it (3-5)
Answer: HAS-BEENS (i.e. “they’re past it”). Solution is HAS (i.e. “holds”) followed by BEE (i.e. “working meeting”) and NS (i.e. “partners” in a game of bridge, being recognised abbreviations of “north” and “south” respectively).
- Major component of body paint, as you can hear (4)
Answer: LIMB (i.e. “major component of body”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “as you can hear”) of LIMN, apparently an archaic word meaning to draw or paint. I like how the clue scans, but, blimey, who would have known that?!
- Female player’s phrase for county official (7)
Answer: SHERIFF (i.e. “county official”). Solution is SHE (i.e. “female”) followed by RIFF (i.e. “player’s phrase”, musically speaking).
- Priestess in play producing model scene (7)
Answer: DIORAMA (i.e. “model scene”). Solution is IO (i.e. a “priestess” of the goddess Hera in Greek mythology. She was turned into a cow, because of course she was. That’s the least bizarre aspect of the story. I’d love some of whatever those Greeks were smoking) placed “in” DRAMA (i.e. “play”), like so: D(IO)RAMA.
- Start working, seeing expert about strained back (7)
Answer: ACTUATE (i.e. “start working”). Solution is ACE (i.e. “expert”) wrapped “about” TAUT (i.e. “strained”) once reversed (indicated by “back”), like so: AC(TUAT)E.
- Novel tool for fixing moccasins? (3,4,2,3,8)
Answer: THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (i.e. a “novel” by James Fenimore Cooper). Clue plays on a variant meaning of LAST, being “a shoemaker’s model of the foot on which boots and shoes are made or repaired” (Chambers). “Moccasins”, meanwhile, are footwear of a type worn by Native Americans, such as the MOHICANS. You get the idea. Hella sneaky, setter. I like it.
- Ignore young woman that’s found in sailor’s arms (7)
Answer: CUTLASS (i.e. a sword “that’s found in sailor’s arms”, probably taking arms to be short for armaments). Solution is CUT (i.e. “ignore”) followed by LASS (i.e. “young woman”).
- A monarch in state you reportedly banished? Just the opposite (8)
Answer: CONTRARY (i.e. “just the opposite”). Solution is A and R (i.e. “monarch”, can be either a recognised abbreviation of Regina (Latin for “queen”) or Rex (Latin for “king”)) both placed “in” COUNTRY (i.e. “state”) once the U has been removed (indicated by “you reportedly banished”, “you” being a homophone of the letter U), like so: CONTR(A-R)Y.
- Achieves satisfaction succeeding king, making fortune (6)
Answer: KISMET (i.e. fate or “fortune”). Solution is IS MET (i.e. “achieves satisfaction”) placed after or “succeeding” K (a recognised abbreviation of “king” used in chess), like so: K-(IS-MET).
- Published chapter for Animal Farm? (5)
Answer: RANCH (i.e. “animal farm”, ignoring the misleading capitalisation and formatting). Solution is RAN (i.e. “published”) followed by CH (a recognised abbreviation of “chapter”).
- Run in a person who’s brutish in a row (7)
Answer: ABREAST (i.e. arranged “in a row”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “run” used in a number of ball games) placed “in” A and BEAST (i.e. “person who’s brutish”), like so: A-B(R)EAST.
- Depressed surface for putting on mix of colours (4-5)
Answer: BLUE-GREEN (i.e. “mix of colours”). Solution is BLUE (i.e. “depressed”) followed by GREEN (i.e. “surface for putting on” in golf).
- Cool stall in Billingsgate once? (11)
Answer: STANDOFFISH (i.e. “cool”). When written as STAND OF FISH the solution also playfully satisfies “stall in Billingsgate” – Billingsgate Fish Market is the largest of its kind inland in the UK. It was moved to the Isle of Dogs in the early 1980’s, hence the “once” of the clue. Nicely done.
- With excessive publicity, head lost in passion, was lying about kiss? (11)
Answer: OVEREXPOSED (i.e. “with excessive publicity”). Solution is LOVE (i.e. “passion”) with the first letter removed (indicated by “head lost in…”) and the remainder followed by REPOSED (i.e. “was lying”) once wrapped “about” X (i.e. symbolic of a “kiss”), like so: OVE-RE(X)POSED.
Down clues
- Snag about English becoming advanced in scientific applications (2-4)
Answer: HI-TECH (i.e. “advanced in scientific applications”). Solution is HITCH (i.e. “snag”) wrapped “about” E (a recognised abbreviation of “English”), like so: HIT(E)CH.
- Way to get pear juice for newsworthy event (5,10)
Answer: PRESS CONFERENCE (i.e. “newsworthy event”). Clue plays on how one can use a PRESS to juice fruit, and how CONFERENCE is a variety of pear.
- Being romantic and madly nostalgic about university (10)
Answer: OSCULATING (i.e. “being romantic”, specifically another word for kissing, albeit one I’d struggle to call romantic. “Hey, baby, how about you and me osculate sometime?” Oof. Good luck with that. You’re going to need your thickest chest rug and some weapons-grade Hai Karate there). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “madly”) of NOSTALGIC wrapped “about” U (a recognised abbreviation of “university”), like so: OSC(U)LATING.
- Being raised from bed, we hear, not at home (4)
Answer: AWAY (i.e. “not at home”). Solution is a homophone (indicated by “we hear”) of AWEIGH (i.e. “being raised from [sea] bed”, as in the phrase “anchors aweigh”).
- Simplistic and muddled again about old part of South America (9)
Answer: PATAGONIA (i.e. “part of South America”, and also home to a colony of Welsh settlers since the mid-1850s). Solution is PAT (i.e. “simplistic”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “muddled”) of AGAIN once wrapped “about” O (a recognised abbreviation of “old”), like so: PAT-AG(O)NIA.
- Taken in by host, am I naming what allows me to stay? (7)
Answer: STAMINA (i.e. “what allows me to stay” the distance). “Taken in by” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: HO(ST AM I NA)MING.
- Plant motivation for Brexit? That’s about right (9)
Answer: EUPHORBIA (i.e. “plant”). Solution is EU PHOBIA (i.e. “motivation for Brexit”, playfully) wrapped “about” R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”), like so: EU-PHO(R)BIA. One nailed solely from the wordplay, perhaps unsurprisingly.
- Wine country including even parts of rift valley (5)
Answer: ITALY (i.e. “wine country”). “Even parts of” indicates the solution is derived from every other letter of RIFT VALLEY.
- Vociferous striker’s dismissal announced (9)
Answer: OUTSPOKEN (i.e. “vociferous”). Solution is OUT (i.e. “striker’s dismissal” in, say, a game of cricket) followed by SPOKEN (i.e. “announced”).
- Contentment is found in assembled clique (12)
Answer: SATISFACTION (i.e. “contentment”). Solution is IS placed “in” between SAT (i.e. “assembled”) and FACTION (i.e. “clique”), like so: SAT-(IS)-FACTION.
- Test cricket, for instance, includes pressure (7)
Answer: INSPECT (i.e. “test”). Solution is INSECT (i.e. “cricket, for instance”) wrapped around or “including” P (a recognised abbreviation of “pressure”), like so: INS(P)ECT.
- Saw, for example, what Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is (6)
Answer: SAYING (i.e. a phrase or “saw”). Solution is SAY (i.e. “for example”) followed by IN G (i.e. “what Eine Kleine Nachtmusik is”. One of those pieces of music you’ll know immediately when you hear it, but I doubt anyone’s first thought would be “Ah, yes, that’s in G major”).
- Convertible used lane that’s not closed (8)
Answer: UNSEALED (i.e. “that’s not closed”). Solution is an anagram (indicated by “convertible”) of USED LANE.
- Each piece of furniture that’s OK to demolish (7)
Answer: EATABLE (i.e. “that’s OK to demolish”, demolish being an informal word for devouring hungrily). Solution is EA (a recognised abbreviation of “each”) followed by TABLE (i.e. “piece of furniture”).
- Finish off puzzle with bad clue, somehow open to improvement (8)
Answer: EDUCABLE (i.e. “open to improvement”). Solution is E (i.e. “finish off puzzle”, i.e. the last letter of “puzzle”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “somehow”) of BAD CLUE, like so: E-DUCABLE.
- County players directed towards ground (8)
Answer: DOWNCAST (i.e. “directed towards ground”). Solution is DOWN (i.e. an Irish “county”) followed by CAST (i.e. “players” or actors).
- Former political leader seen in the Athenaeum (5)
Answer: Edward HEATH (i.e. “former political leader”). “Seen in” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: T(HE ATH)ENAEUM.
- Religious leader with holy book, as opposed to ordinals (8,7)
Answer: CARDINAL NUMBERS (i.e. “as opposed to ordinals” – cardinals denote quantity (e.g. 1, 2, 3), while ordinals denote position (e.g. 1st, 2nd, 3rd)). Solution is CARDINAL (i.e. “religious leader”) followed by NUMBERS (i.e. “holy book”, Numbers is a book of the Old Testament of The Bible).
- Deliver ring covered by favourite semi-precious mineral (7)
Answer: PERIDOT (i.e. “semi-precious mineral”). Solution is RID (i.e. “deliver”) and O (i.e. “ring”) both placed in or “covered by” PET (i.e. “favourite”), like so: PE(RID-O)T.
- Book whose author shows off (5)
Answer: HOSEA (i.e. another “book” of the Old Testament. So soon after the last one? Ease up there, vicar. Have some consideration for us filthy non-believers, eh?) “Shows off” indicates the solution has been hidden in the clue, like so: W(HOSE A)UTHOR.
- Newspaper articles about British lie exposed? (8)
Answer: SUNBATHE (i.e. “lie exposed”). Solution is SUN (i.e. a “newspaper” in the UK) followed by A and THE (both “articles”, as in words like a, an or the). This is all then wrapped “about” B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”), like so: SUN-(B)-A-THE.
- Newspaper holding its boss up longed for some sort of accommodation (4-8)
Answer: SEMI-DETACHED (i.e. “sort of accommodation”). Solution is TIMES (another “newspaper”) wrapped around or “holding” ED (i.e. “its boss”, short for an editor). This is all then reversed (indicated by “up” – this being a down clue) and followed by ACHED (i.e. “longed for”), like so: (SEMI(DE)T)-ACHED.
- Ready for seasonal deliveries, replenishing store (8,2)
Answer: STOCKING UP. Solution satisfies “ready for seasonal deliveries”, specifically a visit from Santa Claus, and also “replenishing store”.
- Employees supporting plant that upholds standards (9)
Answer: FLAGSTAFF (i.e. “that upholds standards”, a standard being a regimental flag). Solution is STAFF (i.e. “employees”) placed after or “supporting” – this being a down clue – FLAG (i.e. “plant”, reed-grass).
- German who scored away excited a bench (9)
Answer: Jacques OFFENBACH (i.e. “German who scored”, a composer). Solution is OFF (i.e. “away”) followed by an anagram (indicated by “excited”) of A BENCH, like so: OFF-ENBACH.
- Exemplary commander whose conclusion is framed in British English (9)
Answer: ADMIRABLE (i.e. “exemplary”). Solution is ADMIRAL (i.e. “commander”) with its last letter or “conclusion” placed “in” between B (a recognised abbreviation of “British”) and E (ditto “English”), like so: ADMIRA(L)-B-E => ADMIRA-B-(L)-E.
- Famous liner docked – a queen (7)
Answer: TITANIA (i.e. “queen” of the fairies). Solution is TITANIC (i.e. “famous [ocean] liner”) with its last letter removed (indicated by “docked”) and the remainder followed by A, like so: TITANI-A.
- Character of Hamlet seen in his first speech, mainly (7)
Answer: HORATIO (i.e. “character of Hamlet”). Solution is H (i.e. “his first”, i.e. the first letter of “his”) followed by ORATION (i.e. “speech”) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “mainly”), like so: H-ORATIO.
- One great singer cut short as victim of aerial tragedy (6)
Answer: ICARUS (i.e. “victim of aerial tragedy” in Greek mythology). Solution is I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”) followed by Enrico CARUSO (i.e. “great singer”, apparently. A bit before my time) once its last letter has been removed (indicated by “cut short”), like so: I-CARUS.
- In early afternoon, daughter made up (6)
Answer: ATONED (i.e. “made up” for). Solution is AT ONE (i.e. “in early afternoon”) followed by D (a recognised abbreviation of “daughter”).
- Right in the middle of tooth, one kind of canine (5)
Answer: CORGI (i.e. “kind of canine”). Solution is R (a recognised abbreviation of “right”) placed “in the middle of” COG (i.e. “tooth” of a gearwheel) and I (i.e. “[Roman numeral] one”), like so: CO(R)G-I.
- Last girl in a series named annually (4)
Answer: JUNE. Clue plays on a “series” of calendar months which are also “girl’s” names: April, May and June. The solution is the “last” of these.
Lucian Poll's Web Ramblings 
Thank you Lucian. I hope, now that you’re not tracking repeats, or outrageous For accents, or mere repetitions, that your superb service to us in the cryptic community is a lot less onerous.
I enjoyed this one.
I like two Test references, 11d and 14a but only one was cricket – well done setter
As usually, I needed the Lucian reveal – I didn’t spot the In G of 12d
Thank you, very much – Graham
Sorry – Meant French accents, not For
Good morning, Lucian and fellow puzzlers. Or puzzler, so far. I hope that the delay in posting the solutions does not so reduce commenters that you give up. Anyway, thank you Lucian, for your parsing. Limn (37a) is an interesting and rather pleasing word.
Thanks, Lucian, for help with the parsing of a few clues and for the musical interlude. A small adjustment in the Saturday routine is all I require to continue enjoying your postings by polishing off the loose ends before starting the new Jumbo. Enjoyable as ever.
My plan to keep the jumbo unseen for a fortnight and so reengineering the accustomed instant gratification has failed lamentably as I “accidentally” just had a little look and of course didn’t look up again until it was finished.
Could not think of ATHWART in spite of having spent years with Hornblower et al.
I thought July, spelled thus, was the last in the girl’s name sequence of months but glad I thought of this after I had my Page 3 epiphany at 57a.
Thanks Lucian and wishing you and all your admirers a VERY HAPPY XMAS!
I’d be grateful for your thoughts on this one Lucian.
28A Assumed choice of directions
Like you, I chose ‘WORE’, and submitted my grid. Today I find that this answer is considered an error. I can only assume that ‘WORN’ was adjudged to be the correct solution.
Why would W(est) OR E(ast) be regarded as an error? If ‘wear’ is viewed as a definition of ‘assume’, then are WORN and WORE not both valid definitions of ‘assumed’?
I had a similar issue with a clue in a previous grid where ‘WODAN’ was considered to be an error; presumably the ‘correct’ answer was ‘WODEN’, although both were equally valid. Can’t recall the exact wording of the clue, but in essence it involved selecting a ‘sex’ (female), and dropping the ‘m’ for a ‘d’. ‘Woman’ was deemed invalid, yet ‘women’ was acceptable? I’d found an equal number of encyclopedic references giving the name either as Wodan or Woden, and regarding one or the other as a variant spelling.
Sorry to subject you to this interminable tirade, but I know your week wouldn’t be complete without an arbitrary rant to lift your festive spirits :>}
Thanks for flagging this, and apologies for the late response. I agree that WORE and WORN are pretty much interchangeable in the grid, so it’s disappointing the editor would allow such ambiguity into the Jumbo. I’ve updated the post to highlight this and to correct the grid image. Thanks again! – LP
Anyone remember the Independent (Saturday) crossword that nobody got?
This was my favourite crossword for some time with a great range of clues, that even the non crosswording members of the family enjoyed (rather than the usual why do you put yourself through that). LIMB was the only problem (now sorted thanks) that meant it finished on a “that must be the answer” rather than a high. Happy Christmas.